Graton Distilling Company makes meticulously crafted spirits that reflect the rustic artistry and raucous vibe of our Northern California home. Our Gin, Whiskey, Bourbon, Rye Whiskey and Vodka each has their own soul, their own spirit. We try to let each one emerge on their own terms.

Our western Sonoma County location is about unfettered creativity.

FEEL IT.

TASTE IT.

Our Spirits

We like to tinker with our concoctions to coax each spirit into something distinct and undeniably delicious. We begin by carefully selecting the finest grains, fruits and botanicals available then combine innovation with traditional distilling methods to create an exquisitely balanced spirit that speaks for itself.

Our innovative micro-column still was custom built by Headframe Stills of Butte, Montana. As energy and water efficiency is critical to us and our neighbors, we chose a still that uses 20-30% less energy than a traditional pot-still. Its continuous distillation process through four separate columns is extremely versatile and precise, allowing us to distill spirits ranging from whiskey, bourbon and brandy to gin and vodka.

Established in 2015, Graton Distilling Company is dedicated to producing carefully crafted spirits that reflect the artistry, flavors and vibe of its home, the town of Graton, California. The centerpiece of the distillery is a one of a kind, continuous micro-column still engineered to craft a wide range of spirits with unparalleled versatility and precision.

Like our still, our mashtun was custom designed for us. Direct steam injection allows us to efficiently and quickly break down the starches into the sugars that in turn work with yeasts to turn the grain into flavorful spirits. We ferment off the grain, separating the liquids from the solids prior to fermentation which results in a very clean fermentation akin to the method used by distilleries in Scotland.

We draw our water from a 246-foot deep well that taps into an underground tributary of adjacent Atascadero Creek, part of the Russian River watershed. Our water’s naturally high mineral content is reduced through reverse osmosis, which amplifies its crisp, clean taste. This method adds a bright, fresh flavor component to our spirits, whether used in fermentation or to proof down before bottling.

We designed our distillery to be as eco-friendly, water and energy efficient as our winery, which is a California Certified Sustainable facility. We chose a still that is highly efficient, using 20-30% less energy than a traditional, single-pot still. Water is heated by an on-site solar array, and our spent grain (post mash) is donated to local farms for livestock feed.

Each of the 12 botanicals used in our gin is individually vapor distilled to the peak point of extraction, then combined into a balanced, complex whole. We use fresh local citrus, delicately hand-zested, because the bright, intense citrus flavor is worth the extra effort. We’ve sourced juniper from Tuscany, which ripens to peak flavor in the sunny growing climate. Finally, our neutral grain base, four-times column distilled from Midwestern corn, provides a smooth, clean backdrop for our botanicals.

Our custom-blown glass bottle, inspired by bartenders and spirit lovers, is designed to be highly functional and ergonomic. Its distinctive blue-green color is inspired by sea glass that washes up at local beaches in Bodega Bay and Point Reyes. The label’s patchwork design takes its cue from the vibrant color palettes and whimsical designs of local artists. Finally, the copper elements of the package reference our unique micro-column still.

Graton Distilling Company was born out of owner Derek Benham’s love of making stuff cool and his insatiable sense of adventure.

Derek got his start selling wine out of the trunk of his '67 Mustang for a small winery and ended up running the business. Then, he struck out on his own and made hay in the wine business before the craft spirits bug bit him. Hard.

Under Derek’s careful guidance, Graton Distilling Company operates with a fearless commitment to craft. D. George Benham's Sonoma Dry Gin, launched in February 2016, was the first spirit to come off our newly built still followed shortly by D. George Benham’s Vodka. Next is Redwood Empire American Whiskey and a killer 10-Year-Old surprise.

We don’t like to make a lot of fuss, we just let the spirits do the talking and hope that what they are saying will blow your mind.

Where the hell is Graton?

And who cares?
It is what it is. Low on pretense, a one-horse town with a lot of heart.

Graah-TON? GRAH-ton? Here in west Sonoma County, the locals pronounce it “GRAY-tin.” Located in the Russian River Valley, the area formerly known as “Gray’s Town” officially became Graton in 1905, but the town is anything but gray.

Once considered a small, out of the way place, Graton has emerged as an eclectic, diverse, active community and a hub for the county’s artists, painters, musicians and the odd tinkerer.

Jeff Duckhorn combines his wine country heritage with the mindset of a maker. He's our accountant gone rogue, since he originally joined Purple Wine + Spirits in 2011 as a number cruncher. He expanded his role by becoming Assistant Distiller in early 2015, quickly working his way to Distiller in January 2016.

Expertise

We've drawn upon our collective knowledge of fermentation science, distillation, winemaking, barrels, sourcing and blending to make spirits that reflect the artistry, flavors and vibe of our location.

Here at our distillery in Graton, we are free to experiment, tinker and create anything we can imagine. It sometimes takes a little elbow grease, but we're a collaborative group, and together, we always find a way to get the job done.

Our approach to making spirits is flavor-driven, with an eye to how our spirit will stand up to a cocktail or simply sipped on its own. We taste everything out in the marketplace that we can get our hands on and bring in friendly critics for feedback and advice. We hone in on individual components as we compose our blends, whether they be a whiskey, rye or gin. Akin to the way that we select individual barrels or lots for a wine blend, this process allows us to create truly unique spirits.

We source the best Midwestern Wheat, Rye, Barley and Corn for mashing and distilling the highest quality spirits. Our unique ability to source grapes is based on three decades of relationships with vineyard owners and growers across the state, and knowing which areas produce the best grapes for our different types and style of wine. And...starting in our own backyard, we've looked to the best places around the globe for our botanicals.

We know barrels. We have quite a lot of them here in Graton. New white oak heavy-charred barrels. French, Hungarian and American wine barrels. Always pushing the envelope, we've found ways to toast up our used wine barrels, bringing them back to life for aging brown spirits. We're also experimenting with finishing off spirits in wine barrels that have been used for fermentation, imparting additional complexity and flavor.

Enjoy Here

Benham's Gin is now available in California!To locate it at a restaurant or retailer, please enter your zip code.